• by David Goetzl , October 7, 2008

Starz, the movie-oriented pay cable channel now ramping up original programming, is moving considerably beyond pay cable--at least as a one-off. The channel will stream the premiere episode of new drama "Crash" for free on the Internet in advance of its Oct. 17 debut.

The 13-episode series is based on the Oscar-winning film. Its online availability will be at Starz.com, which the network said is newly relaunched.

Starz is upgrading its multimedia efforts as it faces a potential new competitor in the announced pay channel to be launched by partners Viacom, MGM and Lionsgate. Lionsgate is a co-producer on "Crash," which stars Dennis Hopper.

With an emphasis on original programming, Starz is following a model that has made HBO--and more recently, Showtime--successful.

Starz said its new site is "easy to use for consumers with more movie extras, special programming such as the award-winning animated 'Bunnies' ... (and) message boards, blogs and widgets."